Pre-Consultation Form

What you will need:

1. Camera or cell phone

2. Another person to either take the picture or to lift the tongue and lip

3. Good lighting to ensure optimal quality

4. Swaddle or blanket to keep your little one still

Camera Tips:

Tip 1: Try to keep everything still.  When both the camera and baby are still the area of interest will focus better.  

Tip 2: With iPhones, you can use the "focus lock" feature to create a yellow box that will focus on anything within the box.  To do this, simply tap once in the middle of the screen and the yellow box should pop up. Try to get the baby's mouth inside this box. 

Tip 3: If taking pictures isn't working well then you may record a video and screen shot the part of the video that displays the best image.

Step 1: Secure your baby

Infants tend to get squirmy when you touch their mouths.  A lot of motion will make it difficult for the camera to focus.  Use a swaddle or blanket to tightly wrap your little one to help minimize movements.  

Step 2: Position yourself for optimal viewing

Lay the baby flat on a bed, changing table, floor, lap or whichever seems most comfortable. The person doing the lifting of the lip and tongue needs to be positioned behind baby’s head so when they look down, the baby is upside-down. The person taking the picture needs to be positioned in front of the baby with the camera pointed in plane with the face.  Make sure you avoid really low, high or slanted angles.

Step 3: Take a picture of the lip

Use both index fingers and thumbs to grab the upper lip.  Pull the lip as high as you can towards the nostrils.   We need to see both light and dark pink zones of the gums.  Do not lift with just one hand and one finger.  An ideal example is shown below.  

Step 4: Take a picture of the tongue

1. Use both index fingers to pull the cheeks out of the way.  This will usually cause the baby to open more and allow you to see better.

2. Push down on the chin with your middle and/or ring fingers to provide leverage when lifting.  Use both index fingers to get underneath the tongue and lift up.  You will want to take the picture with the tongue at its highest point.  

Keep in mind that there are different types of tongue ties so the less obvious ones will really need to have the tongue fully lifted to assess visually.  Do not send a photo of your baby crying with no fingers lifting the tongue.  

Please upload your best photos of the tongue and lip.  You may upload up to 4 photos if needed.

What you will need:

1. Camera or cell phone. 

2. Another person to either help take the picture or do the lifting

3. Good lighting to optimize focus and image quality

4. Swaddle or blanket to keep a baby or small toddler still.

Camera Tips:

Tip 1: Try to keep everything still.  When both the camera and baby are still the area of interest will focus better.  

Tip 2: With iPhones, you can use the "focus lock" feature to create a yellow box that will focus on anything within the box.  To do this, simply tap once in the middle of the screen and the yellow box should pop up. Try to get the baby's mouth inside this box. 

Tip 3: If taking pictures isn't working well then you may record a video and screen shot the part of the video that displays the best image.

Step 1: Secure your child

Infants tend to get squirmy when you touch their mouths.  A lot of motion will make it difficult for the camera to focus.  Use a swaddle or blanket to tightly wrap your little one to help minimize movements.  

Step 2: Position yourself for optimal viewing

You will need to position yourself behind the child's head.  For toddlers and small children who are less cooperative, you may find it more comfortable doing this on the ground or on a bed with the child's head between your legs.  The person taking the pictures should be straddled right above the child's head with the camera pointed straight on the face. With older kids that are more cooperative you may take the photos with them sitting or standing.  Make you avoid really low, high or slanted angles.

Step 3: Take a picture of the lip:

Use both index fingers and thumbs to grab the upper lip.  Pull the lip as high as you can towards the nostrils.   We need to see both light and dark pink zones of the gums.  Do not lift with just one hand and one finger.  See some examples below.

Step 4: Take a picture of the tongue:

1. Use both index fingers to pull the cheeks out of the way.  This will usually cause the child to open more and allow you to see better.

2. Push down on the chin with your middle and/or ring fingers to provide leverage when lifting.  Use both index fingers to get underneath the tongue and lift up.  You will want to take the picture with the tongue at its highest point. 

Tips for the uncooperative toddler or small child 

If your child is clamping down and not opening, I find it helpful to use your index finger and sneak back behind the last upper and lower molars.  You can usually pry the jaw open from that access point without risking them from biting you.  I also find it helpful to use a device to keep the mouth propped open.  In the examples below, I use the back end of a tooth brush or a wooden tongue depressor to keep the mouth open and save my fingers.   

Please upload your best photos of the tongue and lip as shown above.  You may upload up to 4 photos if needed.

What you will need:

1. Camera or cell phone. 

2. Another person to either help take the picture or do the lifting.

3. Good lighting to optimize focus and image quality.

4. Swaddle or blanket to keep a baby or small toddler still.

Camera Tips:

Tip 1: Try to keep everything still.  When both the camera and child are still the area of interest will focus better.  

Tip 2: With iPhones, you can use the "focus lock" feature to create a yellow box that will focus on anything within the box.  To do this, simply tap once in the middle of the screen and the yellow box should pop up. Try to get the baby's mouth inside this box. 

Tip 3: If taking pictures isn't working well then you may record a video and screen shot the part of the video that displays the best image.

Step 1: Secure your child

Infants tend to get squirmy when you touch their mouths.  A lot of motion will make it difficult for the camera to focus.  Use a swaddle or blanket to tightly wrap your little one to help minimize movements.  

Step 2: Position yourself for optimal viewing

You will want to position yourself behind the child's head.  For toddlers and small children who are less cooperative, you may find it more comfortable doing this on the ground or on a bed with the child's head between your legs.  The person taking the pictures should be straddled right above the child's head with the camera pointed straight on the face. With older kids that are more cooperative you may take the photos with them sitting or standing.  Make you avoid really low, high or slanted angles.

How to take a picture of the lip:

Use both index fingers and thumbs to grab the upper lip.  Pull the lip as high as you can towards the nostrils.   We need to see both light and dark pink zones of the gums.  Do not lift with one hand and only one finger.  

Step 4: Take a picture of the tongue:

1. Use both index fingers to pull the cheeks out of the way.  This will usually cause the child to open more and allow you to see better.

2. Push down on the chin with your middle and/or ring fingers to provide leverage when lifting.  Use both index fingers to get underneath the tongue and lift up.  You will want to take the picture with the tongue at its highest point. 

Tips for the uncooperative toddler or small child 

If your child is clamping down and not opening, I find it helpful to use your index finger and sneak back behind the last upper and lower molars.  You can usually pry the jaw open from that access point without risking them from biting you.  I also find it helpful to use a device to keep the mouth propped open.  In the examples below, I use the back end of a tooth brush or a wooden tongue depressor to keep the mouth open and save my fingers.   

Please upload your best photos.  You may upload up to 4 photos if needed.